ARCA hosts safety seminar at MIS

ARCA hosts safety seminar at MIS

That’s why this month the ARCA Racing Series hosted a unique
safety seminar at Michigan International Speedway for about 30 race teams. The
featured speaker was Tom Gideon, the director for safety, research and
development for NASCAR.

“We try to do at least one of these a year,” said Jaymee
Beard, Safety initiative Coordinator for ARCA. “But, this was the first time that
NASCAR has come and helped us put one on.”

The seminar touched on several safety aspects, but focused
on the cockpit of a race car.

“They went over the helmets, the head and neck safety
restraints and the seats,” Beard said. “We want all of our teams to know and
understand the safety standards and how and why these certifications are
important. Safety is important to everyone in the ARCA Racing Series and we are
always looking for ways to inform our teams of the latest safety products and
enhancements available to them.”

Series officials required at least a driver or crew chief
from each team to be at the seminar, but several sent both, Beard said.

In addition to Gideon, ARCA President Ron Drager and Vice
President of Competition Joe Wells spoke during the session.

"As a safety
initiative sponsor I am very impressed in the depths in which ARCA is going,”
said Doug Syer of Staubli Corp. “ARCA is putting in a big effort to make
sure their teams are as informed about current safety-related products and
standards as possible. We give ARCA a lot of credit for letting Staubli promote
its products, such as our SPT series break away fuel line connectors that
prevent fuel spillage and eliminating the possibility of fire.”

The ARCA Safety Initiative was launched in 2006 in an effort
to explore, examine and react to the elements that comprise the safety
environment in auto racing. The plan came out of a desire to achieve a higher
level of responsibility of safety in the ARCA sanctioning body.